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The Dubells #1
Aphrodite and the Duke: A Novel
A jilted beauty and a regretful duke discover that second chances can be divine in this diverse Regency romance for fans of Bridgerton
Aphrodite Du Bell has always resented her name. While the members of the ton, and even the Queen herself, praise her warm brown skin, perfect curls, and exquisite features, Aphrodite can't help but think that living up to the literal goddess of beauty is asking a bit much. Her renowned loveliness certainly didn't stop the love of her life from jilting her and marrying another woman four years ago.
When Aphrodite's formidable mother summons her back to London to aid in her sister's debut, she has no choice but to acquiesce. But Aphrodite is determined to ignore one man in particular: Evander Eagleman, the Duke of Everely, the man who devastated her all those years ago. Yet why does her guileless heart still flutter at the sight of him?
Evander Eagleman lost his chance for true love, but now that he is an unattached widower, he is determined to win back Aphrodite's trust--and her hand in marriage. But just as the couple make strides to mend old wounds, Evander's true reason for rejecting Aphrodite threatens their coveted future...and even their lives.
Aphrodite Du Bell has always resented her name. While the members of the ton, and even the Queen herself, praise her warm brown skin, perfect curls, and exquisite features, Aphrodite can't help but think that living up to the literal goddess of beauty is asking a bit much. Her renowned loveliness certainly didn't stop the love of her life from jilting her and marrying another woman four years ago.
When Aphrodite's formidable mother summons her back to London to aid in her sister's debut, she has no choice but to acquiesce. But Aphrodite is determined to ignore one man in particular: Evander Eagleman, the Duke of Everely, the man who devastated her all those years ago. Yet why does her guileless heart still flutter at the sight of him?
Evander Eagleman lost his chance for true love, but now that he is an unattached widower, he is determined to win back Aphrodite's trust--and her hand in marriage. But just as the couple make strides to mend old wounds, Evander's true reason for rejecting Aphrodite threatens their coveted future...and even their lives.
Audible Audio
First published August 23, 2022
About the author
J.J. McAvoy
33 books5,564 followersI’m a twenty-year-old something born in Montreal, Canada but currently living in Virginia for school. I would tell you want my major is however after two years I still have no idea what I’m doing.
So I’m a writer (duh that’s how you found me), movie enthusiast, and self-proclaimed chef. I love music even though I can’t sing or dance to save my life. (That doesn’t necessarily stop me but you’ve been warned.)
I started Ruthless People the summer of 2013 in hopes of giving myself a new type of love and crime drama. I never knew so many people thought like me! I feel truly blessed to have fans like you all! Writing is my true love and having you all enjoy my words is a dream come true.
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So I’m a writer (duh that’s how you found me), movie enthusiast, and self-proclaimed chef. I love music even though I can’t sing or dance to save my life. (That doesn’t necessarily stop me but you’ve been warned.)
I started Ruthless People the summer of 2013 in hopes of giving myself a new type of love and crime drama. I never knew so many people thought like me! I feel truly blessed to have fans like you all! Writing is my true love and having you all enjoy my words is a dream come true.
I'm on
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and
Youtube
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 458 reviews
October 17, 2022
When I started this, I told myself, “I really need to read more regency romances.” Do I still think this? Well, I feel less inclined to read another one.
I’m not trying to bash this book from the start, but I just think these books are not for me. I only prefer the romance parts in these books because they are always the ones that make your heart flutter. Everything else though, I usually I’m not a fan of because even though the many patriarchal views and constant people-pleasing behavior is quite appropriate and realistic for the time period, I still get quite uncomfortable.
Evander and Aprodite were beautiful for each other. I think they were both equally great and annoying characters. One thing I can definitely tell you is that they weren’t the same people by the end. I'm still not necessarily sure whether I liked who they were by the end.
There was of course a lot more other than the romance, mainly family tension. Aphrodite with her loving and “perfect” family dramatically contrasted with Evander’s mess of a family. I really like how McAvoy highlighted how this affected their relationship. Seriously though, Evander’s family had serious issues and I found this to be the most interesting part of the book. Even though Aphrodite’s family was portrayed to be more loving, I still found most of them obnoxious.
Still the book was able to keep my attention till the very end so that’s 1 star right there.
I’m not trying to bash this book from the start, but I just think these books are not for me. I only prefer the romance parts in these books because they are always the ones that make your heart flutter. Everything else though, I usually I’m not a fan of because even though the many patriarchal views and constant people-pleasing behavior is quite appropriate and realistic for the time period, I still get quite uncomfortable.
Evander and Aprodite were beautiful for each other. I think they were both equally great and annoying characters. One thing I can definitely tell you is that they weren’t the same people by the end. I'm still not necessarily sure whether I liked who they were by the end.
There was of course a lot more other than the romance, mainly family tension. Aphrodite with her loving and “perfect” family dramatically contrasted with Evander’s mess of a family. I really like how McAvoy highlighted how this affected their relationship. Seriously though, Evander’s family had serious issues and I found this to be the most interesting part of the book. Even though Aphrodite’s family was portrayed to be more loving, I still found most of them obnoxious.
Still the book was able to keep my attention till the very end so that’s 1 star right there.
April 13, 2022
3.5 stars 💫
"I hope my sister shatters your heart."
"She does every day when I wake up and see that she is not my wife."
🎭 tropes: second chance, regency
🎭 historical romance isn't normally my genre but this one had me smiling. the MC's were both lively, romantic, and so well suited for each other it was cute
🎭 a bit low in angst for my taste but overall a very well written second chance romance
🎭 arc review, opinions are my own
Read
February 11, 2024That rare thing: a histrom advertised as being 'like Bridgerton' that *is* actually like Bridgerton (TV) in that it simply puts POC into Regency England haut ton without explanation or making any sort of deal of it. I'm alongside that: yes, it consciously ignores the exact parts of history that nationalists would also prefer to pretend didn't happen, but the Romancelandia Regency is completely made up anyway and ignores a ton of other bad things, so let's not use realism as an excuse to exclude people from a fantasy.
That said, this one didn't really work for me. The language is very consciously archaic but didn't ring quite right, and I found it too distancing for me to engage with the characters. Stylistic DNF for me, thus a big YMMV.
That said, this one didn't really work for me. The language is very consciously archaic but didn't ring quite right, and I found it too distancing for me to engage with the characters. Stylistic DNF for me, thus a big YMMV.
September 4, 2022
I hate to say it but this was awful
March 1, 2023
I really loved the first 75% of this but lordy the ending was absolutely too much for me. I obviously knew his brother was going to be the entire third act but it got worse than I thought and then they were feeling bad for him like sorry he was truly evil idk. I was super stressed for the last half of the book bc of course it was all going to go to shit but I didn’t know wheeeeeen.
I appreciated how Evander did take the threats and danger seriously because when that doesn’t happen…I anger. He punched and wanted to take the high road less than Aphrodite so point to him. I did also love Aphrodite though because she took no shit and her relationship with Emmaline was adorable. I just wish the ending didn’t suck the joy out of an incredibly sweet story.
I was more emotionally attached to Aphrodite by the end because Evander was a bit hot and cold. I understood most of his reasoning, but I felt we got the most depth with Aphrodite. I also let why he ended up not marrying her in the past slip without much groveling, but I think the ending needed more of him appreciating all she was doing for the household. I also adored her family and wanted more of their wholesome dynamic. Her mom was such a bad ass.
On the plus side, there wasn’t really a breakup because Criminal Activity got in the way of Evander being angry at Aphrodite for making baller moves. (**SPOILERISH: It had to be done literally the only thing that man cared about was public opinion so that’s why it unhinged him so to have them all turn against him.)
Now that I know how everything happens, I can reread this book with zero stress. I’m actually obsessed with the first half of the book. Like that second chance hit so good. Also when he slept on her side of the bed when they were fighting bc he missed her??? Scientists have yet to study the decibel at which I SCREAMED. I can get over the ending because I liked the rest of the book so much, but it did deduct a full star.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 🌶️🌶️/5
I appreciated how Evander did take the threats and danger seriously because when that doesn’t happen…I anger. He punched and wanted to take the high road less than Aphrodite so point to him. I did also love Aphrodite though because she took no shit and her relationship with Emmaline was adorable. I just wish the ending didn’t suck the joy out of an incredibly sweet story.
I was more emotionally attached to Aphrodite by the end because Evander was a bit hot and cold. I understood most of his reasoning, but I felt we got the most depth with Aphrodite. I also let why he ended up not marrying her in the past slip without much groveling, but I think the ending needed more of him appreciating all she was doing for the household. I also adored her family and wanted more of their wholesome dynamic. Her mom was such a bad ass.
On the plus side, there wasn’t really a breakup because Criminal Activity got in the way of Evander being angry at Aphrodite for making baller moves. (**SPOILERISH: It had to be done literally the only thing that man cared about was public opinion so that’s why it unhinged him so to have them all turn against him.)
Now that I know how everything happens, I can reread this book with zero stress. I’m actually obsessed with the first half of the book. Like that second chance hit so good. Also when he slept on her side of the bed when they were fighting bc he missed her??? Scientists have yet to study the decibel at which I SCREAMED. I can get over the ending because I liked the rest of the book so much, but it did deduct a full star.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 🌶️🌶️/5
November 2, 2022
This book wasn't for me.
Second chance romance isn't one of my favorite tropes but I do enjoy it occasionally. I need a lot of groveling in a second chance romance. This book gave me nothing. I was bored.
As always with Romance I'm sure it's just me. I don't normally read much Romance but in the last couple of months I have been reading quite a bit. I think I have a better idea of what I like and don't like in Romance. And I just don't think I enjoy reading about a couple being just being happy and in love. I need some drama in my Romance.
This book wasn't for me. I think J.J. McAvoy is talented writer and I would read more books by her in the future.
No recommendation.
Second chance romance isn't one of my favorite tropes but I do enjoy it occasionally. I need a lot of groveling in a second chance romance. This book gave me nothing. I was bored.
As always with Romance I'm sure it's just me. I don't normally read much Romance but in the last couple of months I have been reading quite a bit. I think I have a better idea of what I like and don't like in Romance. And I just don't think I enjoy reading about a couple being just being happy and in love. I need some drama in my Romance.
This book wasn't for me. I think J.J. McAvoy is talented writer and I would read more books by her in the future.
No recommendation.
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February 26, 2024DNF at 27%
Over 100 pages in and nothing happening. Not for me.
Over 100 pages in and nothing happening. Not for me.
July 19, 2022
Please note that I received this book via NetGalley. This did not affect my rating or review.
Oh this one hurts. I wanted to love this book so much. But I was really bored throughout my reading. The good stuff, author McAvoy has the period language down to a tee. I honestly thought I was reading a Jane Austen novel at times. McAvoy also has done research into the period of England at the time and that was most appreciated. But I felt like I got dumped into this book mid-series. I was so surprised that it’s the first book. And the lead character Aphrodite bored me to tears. I was more interested in her family and her mother and father honestly. The Duke in the title, is Evander Eagleman who is also bland as anything. I just wanted there to be more there there. Instead the book just goes on a very long [extremely long] explanation of every little thing to the point you just don’t care about the central romance.
“Aphrodite and the Duke” follows Aphrodite Du Bell who has been absent from London after Duke Everely, Evander Eagleman, did not propose to her like she thought he always would. Dealing with the embarrassment of him announcing his wedding, she goes back to the countryside until her mother calls her to London. It’s her younger sister’s debut, and her mother is determined for Aphrodite to make a match as well since it may cause their family scandal that the eldest is still unwed. Being back in the ton has Aphrodite recalling how much she hates it, and it seems that the Duke is everywhere now that he is widowed. The book follows the two of them as Evander does his best to “win” back Aphrodite.
So I loved the fact that McAvoy had Aphrodite be a biracial character. Her father is white, her mother is Black. The book even points out how the children look different and one sister has white skin and blonde hair (got to love genetics). And I love that no one turns a hair about it frankly. It also baffled me that you would read regency romance and people of color were not a thing, unless they were “savages” attacking or something. Yes, I did read a lot of medieval romance set during the time of the Crusades.
That said, everything else felt flat for me. I didn’t get why Aphrodite was ever into the Duke. The conservations they had did not make me think, yes, this is the man for you. It just felt very very dull after a while. The book also switched points of view too much. We get Aphrodite, her parents, her brother, Evander, etc. I have no idea why McAvoy didn’t just have the points of view by Aphrodite and the Duke. It felt random especially because the others don’t really pop up again after a while so I wondered at the point.
I do love that McAvoy took the time to write this book in the time/place that it takes place. But I do think that is why so many readers struggled with it. It gets very boring. Bless, I never did finish Sense and Sensibility because I was bored to tears by it in written form. The flow was pretty awful too. It just felt like nothing was happening for a good portion of the book.
The setting of the Regency era were good, but some reviewers picked up errors in things I didn’t even note.
The ending was fine, but it just felt like this book didn’t know if it wanted to be a second chance romance or what. We go into drama, thriller, etc. It just felt very off.
I read this for Cannonball Read 14, bingo square:
New: New book, new author, new-to-you author, new-to-you genre. Did you know “new” is one of the most common words in a book title?
This is the first time I have read this author, so it fits the new square. Definitely not a new genre for me though.
Oh this one hurts. I wanted to love this book so much. But I was really bored throughout my reading. The good stuff, author McAvoy has the period language down to a tee. I honestly thought I was reading a Jane Austen novel at times. McAvoy also has done research into the period of England at the time and that was most appreciated. But I felt like I got dumped into this book mid-series. I was so surprised that it’s the first book. And the lead character Aphrodite bored me to tears. I was more interested in her family and her mother and father honestly. The Duke in the title, is Evander Eagleman who is also bland as anything. I just wanted there to be more there there. Instead the book just goes on a very long [extremely long] explanation of every little thing to the point you just don’t care about the central romance.
“Aphrodite and the Duke” follows Aphrodite Du Bell who has been absent from London after Duke Everely, Evander Eagleman, did not propose to her like she thought he always would. Dealing with the embarrassment of him announcing his wedding, she goes back to the countryside until her mother calls her to London. It’s her younger sister’s debut, and her mother is determined for Aphrodite to make a match as well since it may cause their family scandal that the eldest is still unwed. Being back in the ton has Aphrodite recalling how much she hates it, and it seems that the Duke is everywhere now that he is widowed. The book follows the two of them as Evander does his best to “win” back Aphrodite.
So I loved the fact that McAvoy had Aphrodite be a biracial character. Her father is white, her mother is Black. The book even points out how the children look different and one sister has white skin and blonde hair (got to love genetics). And I love that no one turns a hair about it frankly. It also baffled me that you would read regency romance and people of color were not a thing, unless they were “savages” attacking or something. Yes, I did read a lot of medieval romance set during the time of the Crusades.
That said, everything else felt flat for me. I didn’t get why Aphrodite was ever into the Duke. The conservations they had did not make me think, yes, this is the man for you. It just felt very very dull after a while. The book also switched points of view too much. We get Aphrodite, her parents, her brother, Evander, etc. I have no idea why McAvoy didn’t just have the points of view by Aphrodite and the Duke. It felt random especially because the others don’t really pop up again after a while so I wondered at the point.
I do love that McAvoy took the time to write this book in the time/place that it takes place. But I do think that is why so many readers struggled with it. It gets very boring. Bless, I never did finish Sense and Sensibility because I was bored to tears by it in written form. The flow was pretty awful too. It just felt like nothing was happening for a good portion of the book.
The setting of the Regency era were good, but some reviewers picked up errors in things I didn’t even note.
The ending was fine, but it just felt like this book didn’t know if it wanted to be a second chance romance or what. We go into drama, thriller, etc. It just felt very off.
I read this for Cannonball Read 14, bingo square:
New: New book, new author, new-to-you author, new-to-you genre. Did you know “new” is one of the most common words in a book title?
This is the first time I have read this author, so it fits the new square. Definitely not a new genre for me though.
November 18, 2022
I wanted to love this so much more! But I just wasn't a fan of everything outside of the romance, and there was quite a lot of it. Evander also should groveled more lol.
August 25, 2022
Aphrodite and the Duke had appeal for fans of the Bridgerton show but ultimately missed the mark.
Evander Everly told Aphrodite Du Bell that he intended to marry her. She believed him and turned away all other suitors until she learned about his marriage to a woman who wasn’t her. Four years later, Evander had become a recent widower and was determined to get it right this time around. Unfortunately for him, Aphrodite wasn’t so quick to forgive.
Aphrodite and The Duke was an incredibly readable book, especially for those looking to lose themselves in regency England once again. McAvoy’s world closely mirrored that of Shonda Rimes’ Bridgerton, right down to the portrayal of Queen Charlotte. Aphrodite and the Duke started with a high but lacked chemistry and tension as the reader could only determine the characters’ attraction to each other from their childhood years together. The progression of their romance was seamless until the introduction of a cartoonesque villain who was determined to rip Aphrodite and Evander apart. With a lack of characterization and a one-dimensional villain, my excitement for this book quickly dissipated.
Aphrodite and the Duke will scratch the Bridgerton itch but it does not create an all-encompassing romance.
Evander Everly told Aphrodite Du Bell that he intended to marry her. She believed him and turned away all other suitors until she learned about his marriage to a woman who wasn’t her. Four years later, Evander had become a recent widower and was determined to get it right this time around. Unfortunately for him, Aphrodite wasn’t so quick to forgive.
Aphrodite and The Duke was an incredibly readable book, especially for those looking to lose themselves in regency England once again. McAvoy’s world closely mirrored that of Shonda Rimes’ Bridgerton, right down to the portrayal of Queen Charlotte. Aphrodite and the Duke started with a high but lacked chemistry and tension as the reader could only determine the characters’ attraction to each other from their childhood years together. The progression of their romance was seamless until the introduction of a cartoonesque villain who was determined to rip Aphrodite and Evander apart. With a lack of characterization and a one-dimensional villain, my excitement for this book quickly dissipated.
Aphrodite and the Duke will scratch the Bridgerton itch but it does not create an all-encompassing romance.
August 20, 2022
3.5 stars rounded up
Aphrodite and the Duke is a second-chance historical romance with a plot that extends well beyond marriage, and I can see why it has been compared to season 1 of Bridgerton. A diverse cast of characters, a heroine who knows nothing about marriage ahead of time, an involved queen, external conflict, and plenty of family drama all bring to mind the show.
I will say, as a regular reader of historical romances, the pacing, language, and plot choices weren't what I was expecting. And that's not necessarily a bad thing, but I wasn't surprised to see that while this author has a decent backlist of contemporary romances, it is her first foray into historicals. The language feels a bit formal for the genre and I'm interested to see if future books might show more comfort and personal style in the prose. In terms of pacing, it's unusual as well.
While many modern romances (especially with an older heroine like Aphrodite) allow their heroines some degree of understanding what happens in the bedroom, that is not the case here. Aphrodite is extremely naive and unschooled, to a somewhat unbelievable degree given her age. And that continues until the wedding, which happens around the halfway point.
The second half of the book is focused on external family conflict and the couple working through their communication issues and baggage from the past. Which I actually liked- I prefer books that look at the struggles that come with acclimating to marriage early on, but it's unexpected. Most of the time you only get post-marriage conflict in a marriage of convenience or a couple that has separated and is coming back together. This is a little different because the characters had a broken engagement, not a separation post marriage.
All that to say, this wasn't what I was expecting, but I ended up liking it pretty well. I would have liked to see Aphrodite be a bit less naive, and it would be nice to have the diversity feel like more than window dressing. I get that we're just now making more space for Black authors and other authors of color to write characters of color in historical romance, but I think authors like Vanessa Riley, Beverly Jenkins, and more recently Adriana Herrera and Erica Ridley have done a great job of making their character's identity a bigger piece of the puzzle. Not to mention for a Regency, reckoning with where most of the gentry were getting their money at the time. This isn't something that's touched on at all. And to be clear, this doesn't have to mean trauma- the authors above often avoid that.
Regardless I'm happy to see more books like this, but I think it could have gone farther. And similarly, the language could feel a bit stilted at times and I hope McAvoy is able to find a happy medium in future books that balances the formality of the time period with her own voice. All in all, not a book I loved, but one I liked and an author I hope to see more from in the future. I received an advance copy of this book via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
Aphrodite and the Duke is a second-chance historical romance with a plot that extends well beyond marriage, and I can see why it has been compared to season 1 of Bridgerton. A diverse cast of characters, a heroine who knows nothing about marriage ahead of time, an involved queen, external conflict, and plenty of family drama all bring to mind the show.
I will say, as a regular reader of historical romances, the pacing, language, and plot choices weren't what I was expecting. And that's not necessarily a bad thing, but I wasn't surprised to see that while this author has a decent backlist of contemporary romances, it is her first foray into historicals. The language feels a bit formal for the genre and I'm interested to see if future books might show more comfort and personal style in the prose. In terms of pacing, it's unusual as well.
While many modern romances (especially with an older heroine like Aphrodite) allow their heroines some degree of understanding what happens in the bedroom, that is not the case here. Aphrodite is extremely naive and unschooled, to a somewhat unbelievable degree given her age. And that continues until the wedding, which happens around the halfway point.
The second half of the book is focused on external family conflict and the couple working through their communication issues and baggage from the past. Which I actually liked- I prefer books that look at the struggles that come with acclimating to marriage early on, but it's unexpected. Most of the time you only get post-marriage conflict in a marriage of convenience or a couple that has separated and is coming back together. This is a little different because the characters had a broken engagement, not a separation post marriage.
All that to say, this wasn't what I was expecting, but I ended up liking it pretty well. I would have liked to see Aphrodite be a bit less naive, and it would be nice to have the diversity feel like more than window dressing. I get that we're just now making more space for Black authors and other authors of color to write characters of color in historical romance, but I think authors like Vanessa Riley, Beverly Jenkins, and more recently Adriana Herrera and Erica Ridley have done a great job of making their character's identity a bigger piece of the puzzle. Not to mention for a Regency, reckoning with where most of the gentry were getting their money at the time. This isn't something that's touched on at all. And to be clear, this doesn't have to mean trauma- the authors above often avoid that.
Regardless I'm happy to see more books like this, but I think it could have gone farther. And similarly, the language could feel a bit stilted at times and I hope McAvoy is able to find a happy medium in future books that balances the formality of the time period with her own voice. All in all, not a book I loved, but one I liked and an author I hope to see more from in the future. I received an advance copy of this book via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
July 22, 2022
Okay, so a lot of publishers compare their historicals to Bridgerton given the success of the show and, as we all know, a lot of these books aren’t really that much like Bridgerton. But Aphrodite and the Duke really is comparable to Bridgerton—it is truly the perfect read for those who enjoy the dynamics of the Netflix rendering of the book series. If you enjoy the parts of Bridgerton that center on the Queen, the different debutantes jostling to claim the “diamond of the season” title, a big, close family, and a racially diverse high-society world, then you’ll find a lot to love in Aphrodite and the Duke. In its approach to race, the book very much works in the vein that Bridgerton opened. Aphrodite’s family is multiracial (her father is white and her society-leading mother is Black) and, much like in Bridgerton (particularly Season 2), this version of Regency London is one in which racism is not a force at play. Aphrodite is a Daphne Bridgerton-esque diamond of the season and, as her name suggests, she is regarded in the ton as the beauty not just of that year, but of her generation. I found this really satisfying because, in Bridgerton and other historical romances, we haven't yet gotten to see a character like Aphrodite—even though Edwina in Season 2 of Bridgerton is the diamond, she isn’t the heroine, so we don’t really get to see a woman of color represented as both the pinnacle of ton feminine ideals and the hero’s desires in the way that we do for Daphne in Season 1. If you are a reader hungry for this type of representation, I would definitely suggest reading Aphrodite and the Duke—I really enjoyed this aspect of the book myself.
Whereas its approach to historical romance and the depiction of Regency London is familiar due to Bridgerton, this book is unusual in aspects of its storytelling. McAvoy gives us POV sections from characters who are not just Aphrodite and Evander and we don’t get a POV section from Evander until almost halfway through the book. I rolled with this difference, but it seems distinctive enough to be worth noting and I wondered if McAvoy made this choice to set a particularly intimate tone for this series and its ensemble cast going forward. Additionally, whereas its similarities to Bridgerton might strike a reader as being more in line with a newer, modern brand of historical romance, the writing and the sensibilities its characters express in regard to gender were a little reminiscent of old school historicals, in my opinion. Aphrodite’s father and brother and the hero, Evander, were more traditional in terms of their views on gender—Aphrodite has to push all of these characters to allow her more self-determination, and that element of the book definitely ran counter to the already feminist heroes/male characters (with the exception of villains) that have become increasingly popular in the historicals of the past ten or fifteen years. If you are a reader who enjoys seeing a heroine having to reckon with typically 19th century views from her family members (and from loving family members, not just those who are clearly meant to be harmful), then you will appreciate this strand of the book. Overall, this stylistic blend makes Aphrodite and the Duke unique and totally delightful.
I recommend Aphrodite and the Duke to readers who want more of that Bridgerton feeling and, also, to those who enjoy the second chance romance and childhood-friends-to-lovers tropes!
Whereas its approach to historical romance and the depiction of Regency London is familiar due to Bridgerton, this book is unusual in aspects of its storytelling. McAvoy gives us POV sections from characters who are not just Aphrodite and Evander and we don’t get a POV section from Evander until almost halfway through the book. I rolled with this difference, but it seems distinctive enough to be worth noting and I wondered if McAvoy made this choice to set a particularly intimate tone for this series and its ensemble cast going forward. Additionally, whereas its similarities to Bridgerton might strike a reader as being more in line with a newer, modern brand of historical romance, the writing and the sensibilities its characters express in regard to gender were a little reminiscent of old school historicals, in my opinion. Aphrodite’s father and brother and the hero, Evander, were more traditional in terms of their views on gender—Aphrodite has to push all of these characters to allow her more self-determination, and that element of the book definitely ran counter to the already feminist heroes/male characters (with the exception of villains) that have become increasingly popular in the historicals of the past ten or fifteen years. If you are a reader who enjoys seeing a heroine having to reckon with typically 19th century views from her family members (and from loving family members, not just those who are clearly meant to be harmful), then you will appreciate this strand of the book. Overall, this stylistic blend makes Aphrodite and the Duke unique and totally delightful.
I recommend Aphrodite and the Duke to readers who want more of that Bridgerton feeling and, also, to those who enjoy the second chance romance and childhood-friends-to-lovers tropes!
April 21, 2022
3.75 ⭐️⭐️⭐️🌟
Aphrodite and the Duke was a great job Done by McAvoy. I believe this is her first run at historical/regency, and I was impressed! I loved having MCs that were people of color and that it was utterly normal.
And for those who are unsure by what I mean, normal as in without any trauma which always seems to be evident whenever we have any form of inclusion in a book.
The story of Aphrodite and Evander is a second-chance love story, but there is more to the story than that. I liked them separately as characters, and together McAvoy wrote their chemistry well. I also felt that the story was broken up well into the different storylines and progressed at just the right speed; not rushed but a touch before slow. Plainly, it was hard to put this book down; however, you did have downtime and did not feel as though you were racing through the events taking place. Which is on par with the J.J. McAvoy books I have already read.
If you are into regency or first loves getting their happy ending, I recommend this to you!
I already have hope for a secondary story for two of the side characters. My fingers are crossed.
I will spruce this up with some quotes once the book is released, but for now, Thank you, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, for this eARC via Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion!
Aphrodite and the Duke was a great job Done by McAvoy. I believe this is her first run at historical/regency, and I was impressed! I loved having MCs that were people of color and that it was utterly normal.
And for those who are unsure by what I mean, normal as in without any trauma which always seems to be evident whenever we have any form of inclusion in a book.
The story of Aphrodite and Evander is a second-chance love story, but there is more to the story than that. I liked them separately as characters, and together McAvoy wrote their chemistry well. I also felt that the story was broken up well into the different storylines and progressed at just the right speed; not rushed but a touch before slow. Plainly, it was hard to put this book down; however, you did have downtime and did not feel as though you were racing through the events taking place. Which is on par with the J.J. McAvoy books I have already read.
If you are into regency or first loves getting their happy ending, I recommend this to you!
I already have hope for a secondary story for two of the side characters. My fingers are crossed.
I will spruce this up with some quotes once the book is released, but for now, Thank you, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, for this eARC via Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion!
August 9, 2022
Tropes: Second Chance, Childhood friends, Children in story, Widower
⭐️⭐️⭐️ ½ /🔥🔥
What do you want from me, Your Grace?”
“A second chance.” He stepped close. “Aphrodite, I wish for another chance for us.”
Aphrodite and the Duke…what a pleasant surprise. Lovers of Bridgerton and Mr. Malcom’s list this book may be right up your alley. Yes...yes… I know, you’re tired of seeing books compared to Bridgerton, me too...but this book really does remind you of Bridgerton (the Netflix series) in its diversity and its “freshness”. Set in a regency era where race is not an issue, Aphrodite and The Duke is a heart-warming second-chance romance filled with a cast of characters who are vivid, fun and full of life.
Narrated in the first person from various points of view, the book is both delightful and engaging, although a bit annoying at times. The book is broken into two sections – part one and part two, which was odd as the second part was a natural continuation of the story. I also found the inclusions of narratives from secondary characters totally unnecessary. These POVs added no additional value to the story which made the story feel disjointed. I’m not a fan of books narrated solely in first person, so reading this book took a bit of getting used to. Once I did, however, I found it hard to put down. It wasn’t much of an original story nor did the passion of our MCs “burn”; nevertheless, I found myself invested in them achieving their HEA.
I especially enjoyed the Du Bells, a prominent interracial and titled family filled with laughter and love. Their banter and interactions with one another were boisterous and pleasant and what one would expect for such a large and diverse grouping. A stark comparison to the Eaglemans, who love one another, but are not nearly as affectionate. This leads me to our hero and heroine…
Aphrodite Du Bell, named for the goddess of love is a beauty. Ironically, she’s jilted by her betrothed, a man she has known and loved for most of her life. Seeking to escape somewhere to tend to her broken and avoid gossip, she retreats to the country. After an extended period, Odite is summoned back to London by her mother to support her sister as she makes her debut. She’s also encouraged to enter the marriage mart again or have a marriage arranged for her. It’s been four years since HE left her behind, but she can’t seem to remove him from her thoughts…especially when she learns he too has returned to London. But how can she marry someone else when her heart still belongs to the man who left her for another.
Evander Eagleman, Duke of Everly has eyes for one woman and one woman only… Aphrodite Du Bell. They were the best of friends growing up and expected to wed once Odite turned eighteen; however, without notice or any explanation, Evander decides to wed another, leaving Odite dejected and broken-hearted. Now a widower, fate has provided him with a second change at happiness. When the same forces that kept him and his beloved apart four years ago threaten to separate them again, Evander will do whatever it takes to earn Odite’s forgiveness and win back her affections.
All said, I really liked this book. I enjoyed seeing people of color prominently featured during a time known for its romanticism. I loved the diversity of her characters as well as the warmth and “heart” illustrated in the narrative. I’m really looking forward to reading more of McAvoy’s work…although I do hope she moves away from the multiple POVs. This one issue almost (ALMOST) made me ditch the book. In the end, a little aggravation was worth the time invested in reading and reviewing this book.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ ½ /🔥🔥
What do you want from me, Your Grace?”
“A second chance.” He stepped close. “Aphrodite, I wish for another chance for us.”
Aphrodite and the Duke…what a pleasant surprise. Lovers of Bridgerton and Mr. Malcom’s list this book may be right up your alley. Yes...yes… I know, you’re tired of seeing books compared to Bridgerton, me too...but this book really does remind you of Bridgerton (the Netflix series) in its diversity and its “freshness”. Set in a regency era where race is not an issue, Aphrodite and The Duke is a heart-warming second-chance romance filled with a cast of characters who are vivid, fun and full of life.
Narrated in the first person from various points of view, the book is both delightful and engaging, although a bit annoying at times. The book is broken into two sections – part one and part two, which was odd as the second part was a natural continuation of the story. I also found the inclusions of narratives from secondary characters totally unnecessary. These POVs added no additional value to the story which made the story feel disjointed. I’m not a fan of books narrated solely in first person, so reading this book took a bit of getting used to. Once I did, however, I found it hard to put down. It wasn’t much of an original story nor did the passion of our MCs “burn”; nevertheless, I found myself invested in them achieving their HEA.
I especially enjoyed the Du Bells, a prominent interracial and titled family filled with laughter and love. Their banter and interactions with one another were boisterous and pleasant and what one would expect for such a large and diverse grouping. A stark comparison to the Eaglemans, who love one another, but are not nearly as affectionate. This leads me to our hero and heroine…
Aphrodite Du Bell, named for the goddess of love is a beauty. Ironically, she’s jilted by her betrothed, a man she has known and loved for most of her life. Seeking to escape somewhere to tend to her broken and avoid gossip, she retreats to the country. After an extended period, Odite is summoned back to London by her mother to support her sister as she makes her debut. She’s also encouraged to enter the marriage mart again or have a marriage arranged for her. It’s been four years since HE left her behind, but she can’t seem to remove him from her thoughts…especially when she learns he too has returned to London. But how can she marry someone else when her heart still belongs to the man who left her for another.
Evander Eagleman, Duke of Everly has eyes for one woman and one woman only… Aphrodite Du Bell. They were the best of friends growing up and expected to wed once Odite turned eighteen; however, without notice or any explanation, Evander decides to wed another, leaving Odite dejected and broken-hearted. Now a widower, fate has provided him with a second change at happiness. When the same forces that kept him and his beloved apart four years ago threaten to separate them again, Evander will do whatever it takes to earn Odite’s forgiveness and win back her affections.
All said, I really liked this book. I enjoyed seeing people of color prominently featured during a time known for its romanticism. I loved the diversity of her characters as well as the warmth and “heart” illustrated in the narrative. I’m really looking forward to reading more of McAvoy’s work…although I do hope she moves away from the multiple POVs. This one issue almost (ALMOST) made me ditch the book. In the end, a little aggravation was worth the time invested in reading and reviewing this book.
August 31, 2022
This was not it.
Very flat, bland and boring.
I usually love her work but this book didn’t worked for me.
Very flat, bland and boring.
I usually love her work but this book didn’t worked for me.
August 22, 2022
I just want to say i was super excited for this book and, at the end of the day, the writing was beautiful…but…this was a very LOW ANGST romance, which doesn’t work for me.
This rating is due to the fact that when i read a second chance romance (and a childhood friends-to-lovers-to-not second Chance romance at that) i NEED it to have some angst and passion and yearning behind it. I just missed that chemistry between our characters that had me fully invested in their romance. This isn’t the first second chance romance I’ve rated 3/5 for this exact reason and it won’t be the last. I am very picky when it comes to second Chance as a trope so please take my review with a grain of salt.
My fave part of this book was Aphrodite’s relationship with her stepdaughter.
I really loved the rest of the Du Bell children and Verity, so i would still be happy to read more from this author in historical romance as i just think a different trope would’ve led to a better outcome for me.
I am a white woman so i cannot speak to anything else but it was really nice seeing a biracial woman as the diamond of the season and the Queen’s favoured :)
This rating is due to the fact that when i read a second chance romance (and a childhood friends-to-lovers-to-not second Chance romance at that) i NEED it to have some angst and passion and yearning behind it. I just missed that chemistry between our characters that had me fully invested in their romance. This isn’t the first second chance romance I’ve rated 3/5 for this exact reason and it won’t be the last. I am very picky when it comes to second Chance as a trope so please take my review with a grain of salt.
My fave part of this book was Aphrodite’s relationship with her stepdaughter.
I really loved the rest of the Du Bell children and Verity, so i would still be happy to read more from this author in historical romance as i just think a different trope would’ve led to a better outcome for me.
I am a white woman so i cannot speak to anything else but it was really nice seeing a biracial woman as the diamond of the season and the Queen’s favoured :)
August 2, 2022
After muliple days I can safely say I give it a 3 Stars. It wasn't bad but it felt unoriginal, part one was good but once we got to Part two it felt like a new book, reminded me a lot of the Ruthless People series which isn't what I'm looking for when I come to historical romances. That being said, again it wasn't bad if J.J. McAvoy can find a way to write a regency beginning to end the way part one was written she'll have it on lock.
*Receive an ARC copy from NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review.*
*Receive an ARC copy from NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review.*
May 4, 2022
From my endorsement:
Aphrodite and the Duke is a vibrant historical romance, full of heart, heat, and thrilling period drama. A delectable treat for fans of Bridgerton!
Aphrodite and the Duke is a vibrant historical romance, full of heart, heat, and thrilling period drama. A delectable treat for fans of Bridgerton!
August 25, 2022
I received this book from a Goodreads giveaway, but that does not change my review or thoughts on the book at all.
I give this book 2.5 ⭐️, I read the entire book, though at times I simply wanted to DNF it. I will be honest, I did not like this book. One thing I don’t like about it, not that it matters much, is the cover. One of my book pet peeves is when authors put a picture of an actual person on the cover. But the cover itself wasn’t what made me not like it.
I understand that the copy I received was an ARC (advanced reader copy) meaning it is not finished. The final version will probably have some more editing, and of course I came across quite a few typos that will be fixed.
One of the reasons I didn’t like it was the writing style. It felt… very childish. It felt like a middle schooler had tried to write an adult regency romance and failed immensely. there were 2 explicit scenes in the book which is why I would say it’s NA, but even those did not excite me. I honestly did not care for them. Nor did I feel any chemistry between Evander and Aphrodite. Their relationship was very bland. The entire story left much to be desired. One of the things the author put into her writing that I did not like at all, were all the “ummmm”’s. It was very annoying, and also did not strike me as something ladies from that era would say that often. As they were very well spoken. And for everyone who is writing reviews and saying, “it was like a Jane Austen novel, it read like a classic.” No, just no. I have read a Jane Austen novel and many other classics, and this did not read like one of those at all. Classics use old English words (this did not), they have a sophisticated air (this did not), and they do not sound like they were written by a middle schooler (This did).
The second reason I didn’t like this book was that I felt like the author had gotten half the ideas for the book from the Bridgerton show/books. I came across many instances in the book where I thought to myself “that reminds me a lot of daphne and Simon.”
For example: Aphrodite does not know the second definition of aroused (she simply thinks it means to wake.” So they have a daphne/Simon moment, where evander sort of explains to her what it means, and how it is possible to “please yourself.”
"You asked me if I was aroused, did you not?" he asked,
head tilted to the side as he looked into my eyes. "Or do you
still think it merely means to arise from slumber?"
"How can I know any other meaning when no one tels
me?" I questioned. "So tell me."
"It is hard to explain. for it is a feeling."
"What is this feeling?"
"Like heat." He stepped closer, "Like fire spreading through-
out your body, desire pulsating upon the skin, and an ache in
the pit of your stomach."
"To what end?"
"The shrubbery." He inhaled and looked as though he
would eat me like a beast, and I felt my breathing become
much slower. "Or if you are skilled enough to release on your
own."
Another example: there is literally someone named edwina lol. Shes only mentioned once, I just thought it was funny. (For everyone who hasn’t watched Bridget ton in season 2 there’s a girl named edwina.)
Another example: in bridgerton Simon and daphne SPOILERS!!!
Get married but then end up fighting and not trusting one another for a time before they resolve the matter. In this book Aphrodite and evander get married and end up fighting over evander not wanting to share his past and current event/issues that are happening in the present with Aphrodite. Before they finally resolve the matter. So while it’s not about the same thing, it felt very similar.
Another example: is that evanders father is a complete piece of shit just like simons father is.
Another example: is that just like daphne and Simon SPOILERS! asked for a special license to get married within a week, Aphrodite and evander also asked for a special license. But unlike Simon/daphne, nothing “untoward” had happened between them, they simply wished to be married as soon as possible.
Another example: near of the end of the book Aphrodite sends out letters and puts in the newspaper, some very touchy and personal stuff about Evanders family, which made me think of lady whistledown.
All of these examples, though they may seem small, made the entire book almost feel like the author was trying to write a Simon/daphne retelling?
Another thing I didn’t like about the book was aphrodites sister, Hathor. Oh. my. word. I have never met a more annoying character! All she did was complain about how Aphrodite always steals the spotlight from her, and how she’ll never find a suitor because they’re all looking at Aphrodite, and blah blah blah etc. it seriously got on my nerves.
All in all I did not enjoy this book, and the only reason I finished it was to be able to write a full review. Nonetheless it was still fun to win a free book… so there’s that. Lol. But I would not recommend this. If you want a regency romance, just buy the bridgerton books.
I give this book 2.5 ⭐️, I read the entire book, though at times I simply wanted to DNF it. I will be honest, I did not like this book. One thing I don’t like about it, not that it matters much, is the cover. One of my book pet peeves is when authors put a picture of an actual person on the cover. But the cover itself wasn’t what made me not like it.
I understand that the copy I received was an ARC (advanced reader copy) meaning it is not finished. The final version will probably have some more editing, and of course I came across quite a few typos that will be fixed.
One of the reasons I didn’t like it was the writing style. It felt… very childish. It felt like a middle schooler had tried to write an adult regency romance and failed immensely. there were 2 explicit scenes in the book which is why I would say it’s NA, but even those did not excite me. I honestly did not care for them. Nor did I feel any chemistry between Evander and Aphrodite. Their relationship was very bland. The entire story left much to be desired. One of the things the author put into her writing that I did not like at all, were all the “ummmm”’s. It was very annoying, and also did not strike me as something ladies from that era would say that often. As they were very well spoken. And for everyone who is writing reviews and saying, “it was like a Jane Austen novel, it read like a classic.” No, just no. I have read a Jane Austen novel and many other classics, and this did not read like one of those at all. Classics use old English words (this did not), they have a sophisticated air (this did not), and they do not sound like they were written by a middle schooler (This did).
The second reason I didn’t like this book was that I felt like the author had gotten half the ideas for the book from the Bridgerton show/books. I came across many instances in the book where I thought to myself “that reminds me a lot of daphne and Simon.”
For example: Aphrodite does not know the second definition of aroused (she simply thinks it means to wake.” So they have a daphne/Simon moment, where evander sort of explains to her what it means, and how it is possible to “please yourself.”
"You asked me if I was aroused, did you not?" he asked,
head tilted to the side as he looked into my eyes. "Or do you
still think it merely means to arise from slumber?"
"How can I know any other meaning when no one tels
me?" I questioned. "So tell me."
"It is hard to explain. for it is a feeling."
"What is this feeling?"
"Like heat." He stepped closer, "Like fire spreading through-
out your body, desire pulsating upon the skin, and an ache in
the pit of your stomach."
"To what end?"
"The shrubbery." He inhaled and looked as though he
would eat me like a beast, and I felt my breathing become
much slower. "Or if you are skilled enough to release on your
own."
Another example: there is literally someone named edwina lol. Shes only mentioned once, I just thought it was funny. (For everyone who hasn’t watched Bridget ton in season 2 there’s a girl named edwina.)
Another example: in bridgerton Simon and daphne SPOILERS!!!
Get married but then end up fighting and not trusting one another for a time before they resolve the matter. In this book Aphrodite and evander get married and end up fighting over evander not wanting to share his past and current event/issues that are happening in the present with Aphrodite. Before they finally resolve the matter. So while it’s not about the same thing, it felt very similar.
Another example: is that evanders father is a complete piece of shit just like simons father is.
Another example: is that just like daphne and Simon SPOILERS! asked for a special license to get married within a week, Aphrodite and evander also asked for a special license. But unlike Simon/daphne, nothing “untoward” had happened between them, they simply wished to be married as soon as possible.
Another example: near of the end of the book Aphrodite sends out letters and puts in the newspaper, some very touchy and personal stuff about Evanders family, which made me think of lady whistledown.
All of these examples, though they may seem small, made the entire book almost feel like the author was trying to write a Simon/daphne retelling?
Another thing I didn’t like about the book was aphrodites sister, Hathor. Oh. my. word. I have never met a more annoying character! All she did was complain about how Aphrodite always steals the spotlight from her, and how she’ll never find a suitor because they’re all looking at Aphrodite, and blah blah blah etc. it seriously got on my nerves.
All in all I did not enjoy this book, and the only reason I finished it was to be able to write a full review. Nonetheless it was still fun to win a free book… so there’s that. Lol. But I would not recommend this. If you want a regency romance, just buy the bridgerton books.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 2, 2022
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/Ballentine for this ARC in exchange for my fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Rating: 4.5 Stars (rounded 5 Stars)
Publication Date: 8/23/22
Number of Pages: 384
Well, well…not having read anything by J.J. McAvoy, I was totally impressed with this story and her writing. I was more impressed to read my second historical romance novel that featured the heroine as a person of color…the cover and description that drew to wanting the opportunity to read “Aphrodite and the Duke”.
Thus, the story of Aphrodite “Odite” Du Bell who was considered “a Diamond” during her first season, and is still viewed as very beautiful among the ton. Her name is synonymous with being a goddess of beauty…something she finds hard living up to the name. She is summoned to her family’s home in London to assist her sister in her first season after four years of mending her heart that was broken by her first love, Evander Eagleman, the Duke of Everley.
The trope is of second chance love and begins again with Odite having her second season to find a husband, and Evander, now a widower wants to rekindle his love with her and needs to be that husband she is looking to marry. This is one sweet book with likeable characters. I found Evander to be loving and caring and it showed in his pursuit again for Aphrodite…even risking his life for her. I loved Odite’s character as well and she knew what she wanted and was tired of everyone telling her what to do. She was wise in her decisions and for both, sometimes doing everything one way in the eyes of others, does not make it right for the people involved.
Although the story started off slow in the beginning, by midway through the book it was just a wonderful breath of fresh air and introduced the conflict surrounding why Evander circumstances caused the breakup of the H/h. There was some angst but not overdone which I liked for this story. As the H/h reconstructed their relationship, I did expect more of a steamy and heated romance between the two as she was very naïve in the way of lovemaking and after four years of pining for each other. In addition, I so loved the sub-characters (Odite’s family) that brought banter, love and a humorous side to the book. The family dynamics were well-written that at times it drew me into the middle of the family.
Such a delightful and enjoyable story and I am so looking for this first to continue as a series (especially of Damon and Silva). Thank you J.J. McAvoy…I look forward to reading more from you. Highly recommend the read.
Rating: 4.5 Stars (rounded 5 Stars)
Publication Date: 8/23/22
Number of Pages: 384
Well, well…not having read anything by J.J. McAvoy, I was totally impressed with this story and her writing. I was more impressed to read my second historical romance novel that featured the heroine as a person of color…the cover and description that drew to wanting the opportunity to read “Aphrodite and the Duke”.
Thus, the story of Aphrodite “Odite” Du Bell who was considered “a Diamond” during her first season, and is still viewed as very beautiful among the ton. Her name is synonymous with being a goddess of beauty…something she finds hard living up to the name. She is summoned to her family’s home in London to assist her sister in her first season after four years of mending her heart that was broken by her first love, Evander Eagleman, the Duke of Everley.
The trope is of second chance love and begins again with Odite having her second season to find a husband, and Evander, now a widower wants to rekindle his love with her and needs to be that husband she is looking to marry. This is one sweet book with likeable characters. I found Evander to be loving and caring and it showed in his pursuit again for Aphrodite…even risking his life for her. I loved Odite’s character as well and she knew what she wanted and was tired of everyone telling her what to do. She was wise in her decisions and for both, sometimes doing everything one way in the eyes of others, does not make it right for the people involved.
Although the story started off slow in the beginning, by midway through the book it was just a wonderful breath of fresh air and introduced the conflict surrounding why Evander circumstances caused the breakup of the H/h. There was some angst but not overdone which I liked for this story. As the H/h reconstructed their relationship, I did expect more of a steamy and heated romance between the two as she was very naïve in the way of lovemaking and after four years of pining for each other. In addition, I so loved the sub-characters (Odite’s family) that brought banter, love and a humorous side to the book. The family dynamics were well-written that at times it drew me into the middle of the family.
Such a delightful and enjoyable story and I am so looking for this first to continue as a series (especially of Damon and Silva). Thank you J.J. McAvoy…I look forward to reading more from you. Highly recommend the read.
November 26, 2023
Love the Netflix adaptation of Bridgerton? Then you’ll love this. Probably.
Aphrodite Du Bell comes from a wealthy mixed-race family in a colorblind Regency England. The man she loves abandoned her four years ago to marry someone else. Now, he’s widowed—and back on the marriage market.
There were moments I loved this book and moments where I had to make a note in my StoryGraph that simple said, “BANANA PANTS.”
Here are a few other things to know about Aphrodite and the Duke.
- Aphrodite’s family dynamics are so fun. I think JJ McAvoy captured the teasing, drama and jealousy within a large group of siblings really well.
- She also showed the real frustrations Odite (for that is her nickname) felt about her restricted lifestyle—despite having every advantage and creature comfort she could wish for. It’s now new for a historical romance to illuminate the lack of agency women used to have, but I think McAvoy did a very good job with it.
- I think the duke is kind of a dck.
- At 88%, Odite does something absolutely mind-boggling, after which it goes completely off the rails. In a delightful way, imho—but it did feel very random.
A few big notes that dropped this down to three stars:
- It’s in the first person. I think McAvoy should have gone with 3rd person omniscient narrator. Towards the beginning, she gave POVs to Odite’s brother and the duke’s sister, basically just to get us into rooms the MCs weren’t in. Giving POVs to others than the hero and heroine feels clunky, and a first-person multiple perspective book always trips me up.
- It needed a reader for historical accuracy. Just little things, like a duchess would never say, “Brilliant, thank you” to the housekeeper. And a duchess would never hold out her hand to shake anyone’s hand, let alone a tenant’s.
- And perhaps the biggest thing: I’m not sure our MCs are right for each other. I don’t really buy a HEA for these two.
BUT I did love a lot of it (especially using “being taken to the shrubbery as a euphemism for boning) and will be picking up the next in the series.
Aphrodite Du Bell comes from a wealthy mixed-race family in a colorblind Regency England. The man she loves abandoned her four years ago to marry someone else. Now, he’s widowed—and back on the marriage market.
There were moments I loved this book and moments where I had to make a note in my StoryGraph that simple said, “BANANA PANTS.”
Here are a few other things to know about Aphrodite and the Duke.
- Aphrodite’s family dynamics are so fun. I think JJ McAvoy captured the teasing, drama and jealousy within a large group of siblings really well.
- She also showed the real frustrations Odite (for that is her nickname) felt about her restricted lifestyle—despite having every advantage and creature comfort she could wish for. It’s now new for a historical romance to illuminate the lack of agency women used to have, but I think McAvoy did a very good job with it.
- I think the duke is kind of a dck.
- At 88%, Odite does something absolutely mind-boggling, after which it goes completely off the rails. In a delightful way, imho—but it did feel very random.
A few big notes that dropped this down to three stars:
- It’s in the first person. I think McAvoy should have gone with 3rd person omniscient narrator. Towards the beginning, she gave POVs to Odite’s brother and the duke’s sister, basically just to get us into rooms the MCs weren’t in. Giving POVs to others than the hero and heroine feels clunky, and a first-person multiple perspective book always trips me up.
- It needed a reader for historical accuracy. Just little things, like a duchess would never say, “Brilliant, thank you” to the housekeeper. And a duchess would never hold out her hand to shake anyone’s hand, let alone a tenant’s.
- And perhaps the biggest thing: I’m not sure our MCs are right for each other. I don’t really buy a HEA for these two.
BUT I did love a lot of it (especially using “being taken to the shrubbery as a euphemism for boning) and will be picking up the next in the series.
Read
May 19, 2023DNFed af 55%
I wanted to like this sooo bad! The setting was perfect but the characters were boring. What’s crazy is it had one of my fave tropes which is people who already know each other in some capacity getting together.
In this case they were ex fiancés/ family friends but instead of that helping them have amazing chemistry, what actually ended up happening was the author kept telling us why they loved each other but we never saw any real intimacy between them. Like idk if the love interests even had any hobbies or a personality past trying to get Aphrodite back.
I also HATEEE age gaps. Anything that involves them having to wait until the girl is of age is a HUGE NO FOR ME!!
I wanted to like this sooo bad! The setting was perfect but the characters were boring. What’s crazy is it had one of my fave tropes which is people who already know each other in some capacity getting together.
In this case they were ex fiancés/ family friends but instead of that helping them have amazing chemistry, what actually ended up happening was the author kept telling us why they loved each other but we never saw any real intimacy between them. Like idk if the love interests even had any hobbies or a personality past trying to get Aphrodite back.
I also HATEEE age gaps. Anything that involves them having to wait until the girl is of age is a HUGE NO FOR ME!!
September 9, 2022
(2.5 stars)
It is so rare to get a chance to read a historical romance that places a biracial character front and center. It was truly a breath of fresh air to have no drama or trauma around it, just people living. I was really enjoying this one right up to about 40-45%. Then all the sudden it was wedding bells and some family scandal/revenge type things in the background. I spent a significant amount of time grouching about not getting to enjoy the courtship between Aphrodite and Evander. No flashback even.
Before the nuptials was my favorite! Aphrodite's family was fabulous and full of life and color. It took no effort to get swept away with giggles as the sister's snarked at each other and brothers were brothers. Mother and Father had their own charm and irritating moments that kept the story engaging. As for our main couple...
Aphrodite was the stronger character. Her hopes, dreams, and determination all took center stage. Evander... felt more like a supporting character? I spent the last half of the book wishing Aphrodite's family would visit and liven up the place. I think it comes down to not enough time enjoying their falling in love, present or past. It leaned heavily on the inevitable feeling rather than will they? Won't they?
To be fair, I struggle a lot when a marriage happens in the middle of the book. Especially if there doesn't seem to be an interesting dynamic between the H and h (i.e. marriage of convenience, forced arrangement, and similar tropes). I ended up putting it down for large amounts of time, hoping that it was just a reading slump but every time I came back my mood stayed the same.
I was really irritated towards the end of the book. Aphrodite messes up rather significantly at around 90% and yet everything hastily comes together with no real repercussions for her actions. I don't fault her, but it seemed odd to have such a strong reaction from Evander and others to suddenly forgiving her.
While I was uninspired by the plot post-wedded bliss, I do really love how McAvoy approached the relationship between Aphrodite and Emeline, Evander's daughter. It was exactly what I had hoped for when it came up.
This was a decent second chance romance with low angst, medium heat. While I'm not really enamored with this couple, I am really hoping we get an HEA for Verity in the future!
*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
It is so rare to get a chance to read a historical romance that places a biracial character front and center. It was truly a breath of fresh air to have no drama or trauma around it, just people living. I was really enjoying this one right up to about 40-45%. Then all the sudden it was wedding bells and some family scandal/revenge type things in the background. I spent a significant amount of time grouching about not getting to enjoy the courtship between Aphrodite and Evander. No flashback even.
Before the nuptials was my favorite! Aphrodite's family was fabulous and full of life and color. It took no effort to get swept away with giggles as the sister's snarked at each other and brothers were brothers. Mother and Father had their own charm and irritating moments that kept the story engaging. As for our main couple...
Aphrodite was the stronger character. Her hopes, dreams, and determination all took center stage. Evander... felt more like a supporting character? I spent the last half of the book wishing Aphrodite's family would visit and liven up the place. I think it comes down to not enough time enjoying their falling in love, present or past. It leaned heavily on the inevitable feeling rather than will they? Won't they?
To be fair, I struggle a lot when a marriage happens in the middle of the book. Especially if there doesn't seem to be an interesting dynamic between the H and h (i.e. marriage of convenience, forced arrangement, and similar tropes). I ended up putting it down for large amounts of time, hoping that it was just a reading slump but every time I came back my mood stayed the same.
I was really irritated towards the end of the book. Aphrodite messes up rather significantly at around 90% and yet everything hastily comes together with no real repercussions for her actions. I don't fault her, but it seemed odd to have such a strong reaction from Evander and others to suddenly forgiving her.
While I was uninspired by the plot post-wedded bliss, I do really love how McAvoy approached the relationship between Aphrodite and Emeline, Evander's daughter. It was exactly what I had hoped for when it came up.
This was a decent second chance romance with low angst, medium heat. While I'm not really enamored with this couple, I am really hoping we get an HEA for Verity in the future!
*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 26, 2022
My excitement for this book’s release was intense. Am I happy I read it? Yes. Did I enjoy it? Yes. Can I recommend it? Maaaybe??? I want to love this and I did like it. There’s nothing wrong with like.
It was a fun ride and I hope that there will be many more Regency novels with characters of color. In fact, I’d be willing to read more about the Du Bell family. I don’t know that I’d do it at this price point, but that’s what libraries are for.
All in, this was a fun book. The pace was a bit off and the language was sometimes awkward, but Regency romance could use more books about black and brown characters. I hope this becomes a series and I’d like to see more of these characters.
It was a fun ride and I hope that there will be many more Regency novels with characters of color. In fact, I’d be willing to read more about the Du Bell family. I don’t know that I’d do it at this price point, but that’s what libraries are for.
All in, this was a fun book. The pace was a bit off and the language was sometimes awkward, but Regency romance could use more books about black and brown characters. I hope this becomes a series and I’d like to see more of these characters.
September 12, 2022
After the release of Netflix's Bridgerton, I was hoping that more people would get inspired to write historical romances starring people of color. It seems that McAvoy was one of those, and for that, I can't be upset. But though I liked reading a romance set in a Bridgerton-esque England, I couldn't give this book a higher rating because McAvoy's writing just doesn't work for me. Between a lot of telling, the naïve protagonist, and the chaotic plot, this book was a miss for me, and I'm not sure I want to read more from this author in the future.
Writing: McAvoy's prose style is not one I enjoyed for several reasons. First, the story is written in first person; I can't begrudge this choice too much, since I am fully aware that I have personal biases against first person, but if you are like me and find first person to be a little awkward, you probably will have issues with thus book.
Second, McAvoy makes some strange choices regarding point of view. The majority of the story is told from our protagonist, Aphrodite's, perspective, but occasionally, McAvoy will switch to Aphrodite's brother Damon or her love interest, Evander, or Evander's sister, Verity. Personally, I found the change in point of view to be random; there wasn't really a clear reason for the changes other than I think McAvoy wanted to include a scene here and there that Aphrodite wouldn't have first hand knowledge of. I would have much rather seen a back and forth between Aphrodite and Evander so that we could see how their perspectives were misaligned before eventually coming together.
Third, McAvoy relies on a lot of telling rather than showing. Aphrodite dumps a lot of information on us by way of expository narrative, and she even tells us her feelings in a rather blunt manner. Moreover, there seems to be an imbalance between narrative and dialogue, with dialogue far outweighing descriptions and the like. As a result, I felt I was being told the story rather than invited to experience it. I would have instead liked to see McAvoy slow down and really dwell on what was happening, what the mood of the scene was, and Aphrodite's feelings so that I as a reader could experience them along with the character.
Fourth, McAvoy's dialogue feels a little stilted. Characters speak in a somewhat archaic fashion, which I suspect is supposed to mirror the posh style of upper class English during the Regency period. However, because the dialogue is so formal and archaic - even between characters who are supposed to be close friends or family - relationships and interactions didn't feel natural. I would have liked to see characters instead use the more formal speech for formal situations and then lapse into an easier style when they were around confidantes.
Plot: The non-romance plot of this book can be divided into two parts. Part one essentially centers around a marriage dilemma; Aphrodite has been away from Society for four years following the marriage of her childhood best friend to another woman. Now she's back to see her younger sister's debut, and their mother has decided that Aphrodite must marry this season in order to give her sisters a fighting chance. After all, it looks bad when a duke's eldest daughter can't land a husband, despite that daughter being the most beautiful woman in the ton.
Part two follows Aphrodite after her marriage and details the ways in which she and Evander seek to bring Evander's illegitimate half-brother, Fitzwilliam, to justice. Fitzwilliam is a nuisance in part because he desires the dukedom for himself and will do anything to get it, so Aphrodite must help Evander outwit him to make sure everyone stays safe and happy.
While this plot would normally be ok for me, much of the two parts came across as somewhat simplistic. In part one, McAvoy would hit a lot of the beats that are integral to most Regency romances - balls, dress fittings, receiving guests, you name it - but I never got the sense that they were building towards anything. In romances I like, these beats are sites of social tension that present a challenge for the protagonists to overcome. For a ball, the protagonist might be testing their ability to perform for polite society. For a gentleman caller, maybe the caller presents a new dilemma that the heroine has to navigate. In this book, the beats felt like they were included because "that's what's in a Regency romance." Perhaps I felt this way because McAvoy's prose style made the pace feel way too quick. Scenes would only last a couple pages, so it didn't feel like they were particularly important or emotionally weighty. When Aphrodite attends her first ball, for example, she encounters Evander directly for the first time in years, and the entire thing is over in just a few pages. I would have rather liked to see McAvoy slow down and think about what each scene is meant to accomplish, with more time devoted to building tension and suspense.
Part two was also a little chaotic while also not building suspense effectively. After her marriage, Aphrodite is preoccupied with redecorating her new home and making connections with her step daughter, Emmeline. During these moments, it felt as if we were suspended in time, since there was no threat that Fitzwilliam posed to Aphrodite's happiness or safety. When Fitzwilliam does come back in, events seem to happen at random without much thought to how they build upon one another, and rather than being excited, I mostly felt disengaged.
Characters: Before I talk a out individuals, I want to discuss something McAvoy does that applies to all characters. Because McAvoy tells rather than shows, many of her characters come across as unusually self-aware. While some introspection is a good thing, I didn't exactly buy it 100% of the time. Aphrodite, for example, always talks about how her beauty makes her feel like she lives in a gilded cage. Her mother speaks bluntly about the expectations of women, her feelings about being Evander's godmother, etc. While sometimes a little directness can be good, I felt like such directness in this book was unrealistic or at least a shortcut for not writing scenes that let the reader infer these ideas.
Now for the individuals.
Aphrodite, our protagonist, was not particularly interesting to me as a reader. While I appreciated the fact that she was a POC in an elite role in society, I didn't feel like she was fully fleshed out. I didn't know what she wanted out of life, and I didn't feel like she was striving for anything, merely doing what was expected of her. On top of that, Aphrodite has few character quirks that make her compelling; we're told that she likes to read, but it's unclear how her reading tastes influence her personality or what her philosophical quotes add to the story.
Furthermore, I really did not like Aphrodite's naivete and the focus on her looks. On some level, I can understand how McAvoy might be trying to work against stereotypes of black women - by making her heroine beautiful, she combats the stereotypes that portray blackness as lesser or ugly. By making her heroine naïve, she combats stereotypes that portray black women as overly sexual. But as much as I can appreciate those things, I think McAvoy overcompensated. For one, Aphrodite is so beautiful that everything she does is perfect, which not only causes everyone around her to call her things like "angel" or "goddesses" often, but it causes a rift with her sister, Hathor. Aphrodite is also incredibly naïve - not only does she not think about the consequences of her actions, but she also doesn't know what sexual arousal is. There is a scene where she stumbles upon a couple having sex in a garden and her thoughts seem childish: "why is he kissing her like that? Wouldn't it hurt?" I felt a bit exhausted by her naivete, and she didn't seem to have any strong skills or talents to make up for her shortcomings or drive the narrative.
Evander, our hero, is difficult to see as a desirable love interest. Again, I admire McAvoy for putting POC into prominent roles and doing her best to combat stereotypes, but like Aphrodite, Evander comes across as rather flat. He lets his anger get the best of him, and though he never hurts Aphrodite, he does withhold a lot of information from her for fairly weak reasons.
Supporting characters are likewise flat and because of their dialogue, they feel stuffy or overly emotional. Aphrodite's mother, for example, could have been more complex in that she wants the best for her daughters yet also feels compelled to give Evander the benefit of the doubt (as he is her godson), but every time she speaks, she is impossibly formal and her actions lack nuance. She insists on balls and dancing lessons because those are the beats of a Regency romance, not because she has any particular insight into how these things can help her daughters, and even when she does show insight, it feels too insightful to be realistic. I also disliked how obvious it was that she favored Aphrodite and dismissed the feelings of her daughter, Hathor; the favoritism didn't endear me to her or Aphrodite, and it felt callous.
Aphrodite's and Evander's various siblings are likewise hard to connect with. Hathor, the sister whose coming out is the focus of the season, behaves like a child in that she cries when she isn't seen as absolutely perfect and chases her younger sister around the house over a ripped bonnet. Aphrodite's brother, Damon, is the dutiful heir and protective sibling, and his wife, Silva, is kind, but they disappear and reappear when convenient and I never really get a feel for their role in the story, other than to tell us (and Aphrodite's parents) that Aphrodite is still hurt after Evander's rejection. Evander's sister, Verity, is likeable in that she is kind and accepting, but her childhood trauma is used as a tool to fuel Evander's desire for justice.
The main antagonists in this book are Evander's half-brother, Fitzwilliam, and his mother, Datura. Datura is a butcher's daughter who was also Evander's father's mistress. Both of them are written as greedy and condemned for social climbing, which at first comes off as rather classist. To make sure we see them as antagonists, McAvoy writes Datura as the source of Verity's childhood trauma and makes Fitzwilliam a domestic abuser, which seems odd because the moral of the story is not that these two should be condemned for harming others, but they should be condemned because they dared to try to disrupt the social order. It was an odd conclusion, and one that I felt used interpersonal harm as an excuse to uphold the nobility.
Romance: Like the non-romance plot, the romance in this novel can be divided into two parts. The main premise of part one is that Evander rejected Aphrodite in the past, and our heroine has spent 4 years moping about it. While I love a good setup like this, it seemed like all the characters had to do to get together was have a good talk. When the protagonists are forced to interact during the season, Evander finally reveals the reason why he jilted Aphrodite and the major impediment to their union is cleared up by the 30% mark. After that, it's just a matter of getting Aphrodite's father on board and tidying up Evander's past. To me, it felt like drama without substance; Evander and Aphrodite don't really grow together by overcoming obstacles to their relationship, and it was disheartening, as I really thought there was some opportunity to reflect on things like childhood love and trust.
Part two follows Aphrodite and Evander after their marriage and gosh do they not learn from part one. The two spend a good chunk of the book quarreling because Evander withholds information for no good reason, and when they make up, Aphrodite's naivete and impulsive decisions threaten their relationship once again. I kind of felt like McAvoy wasn't sure how to write conflict after a couple got married, so a lot of it was meaningless drama that was enacted between the two leads rather than the leads forming a united front against the world.
Furthermore, I couldn't quite see what Aphrodite and Evander loved about each other aside from having known the other since childhood. Their romance felt like a proximity thing rather than a deep emotional connection, or perhaps Evander loved Aphrodite because she's so beautiful, and I wanted to see the two bring out the best in each other rather than just burn with passion. To some extent, it got better towards the end of the book; Evander seems to admire Aphrodite for the way she cares for Emeline and for her ruthless pursuit of justice, but he himself is still a bit too stuffy for my tastes.
Speaking of passion - Aphrodite and Evander's dynamic is somewhat like Daphne and Simon's in that Aphrodite is comically naïve and Evander is a brooding man who has to teach her about sex. In the show, the dynamic works a little better because withholding information about female sexuality is a theme and is shown to be a flaw in the mother's character. In this book, Aphrodite's naivete is not really a commentary on women's knowledge or sexuality - it seems to be there because McAvoy liked the trope of the clueless virgin, and while it may be some readers' jam, it very much was not mine.
TL;DR: Despite featuring a number of POC in prominent, upper-class roles, Aphrodite and the Duke doesn't feel very deliberate in its plotting and the writing style feels underdeveloped. While some readers might find joy in the world McAvoy creates, I felt personally disappointed on account of the poor characterization, chaotic narrative, and explanatory prose style.
Writing: McAvoy's prose style is not one I enjoyed for several reasons. First, the story is written in first person; I can't begrudge this choice too much, since I am fully aware that I have personal biases against first person, but if you are like me and find first person to be a little awkward, you probably will have issues with thus book.
Second, McAvoy makes some strange choices regarding point of view. The majority of the story is told from our protagonist, Aphrodite's, perspective, but occasionally, McAvoy will switch to Aphrodite's brother Damon or her love interest, Evander, or Evander's sister, Verity. Personally, I found the change in point of view to be random; there wasn't really a clear reason for the changes other than I think McAvoy wanted to include a scene here and there that Aphrodite wouldn't have first hand knowledge of. I would have much rather seen a back and forth between Aphrodite and Evander so that we could see how their perspectives were misaligned before eventually coming together.
Third, McAvoy relies on a lot of telling rather than showing. Aphrodite dumps a lot of information on us by way of expository narrative, and she even tells us her feelings in a rather blunt manner. Moreover, there seems to be an imbalance between narrative and dialogue, with dialogue far outweighing descriptions and the like. As a result, I felt I was being told the story rather than invited to experience it. I would have instead liked to see McAvoy slow down and really dwell on what was happening, what the mood of the scene was, and Aphrodite's feelings so that I as a reader could experience them along with the character.
Fourth, McAvoy's dialogue feels a little stilted. Characters speak in a somewhat archaic fashion, which I suspect is supposed to mirror the posh style of upper class English during the Regency period. However, because the dialogue is so formal and archaic - even between characters who are supposed to be close friends or family - relationships and interactions didn't feel natural. I would have liked to see characters instead use the more formal speech for formal situations and then lapse into an easier style when they were around confidantes.
Plot: The non-romance plot of this book can be divided into two parts. Part one essentially centers around a marriage dilemma; Aphrodite has been away from Society for four years following the marriage of her childhood best friend to another woman. Now she's back to see her younger sister's debut, and their mother has decided that Aphrodite must marry this season in order to give her sisters a fighting chance. After all, it looks bad when a duke's eldest daughter can't land a husband, despite that daughter being the most beautiful woman in the ton.
Part two follows Aphrodite after her marriage and details the ways in which she and Evander seek to bring Evander's illegitimate half-brother, Fitzwilliam, to justice. Fitzwilliam is a nuisance in part because he desires the dukedom for himself and will do anything to get it, so Aphrodite must help Evander outwit him to make sure everyone stays safe and happy.
While this plot would normally be ok for me, much of the two parts came across as somewhat simplistic. In part one, McAvoy would hit a lot of the beats that are integral to most Regency romances - balls, dress fittings, receiving guests, you name it - but I never got the sense that they were building towards anything. In romances I like, these beats are sites of social tension that present a challenge for the protagonists to overcome. For a ball, the protagonist might be testing their ability to perform for polite society. For a gentleman caller, maybe the caller presents a new dilemma that the heroine has to navigate. In this book, the beats felt like they were included because "that's what's in a Regency romance." Perhaps I felt this way because McAvoy's prose style made the pace feel way too quick. Scenes would only last a couple pages, so it didn't feel like they were particularly important or emotionally weighty. When Aphrodite attends her first ball, for example, she encounters Evander directly for the first time in years, and the entire thing is over in just a few pages. I would have rather liked to see McAvoy slow down and think about what each scene is meant to accomplish, with more time devoted to building tension and suspense.
Part two was also a little chaotic while also not building suspense effectively. After her marriage, Aphrodite is preoccupied with redecorating her new home and making connections with her step daughter, Emmeline. During these moments, it felt as if we were suspended in time, since there was no threat that Fitzwilliam posed to Aphrodite's happiness or safety. When Fitzwilliam does come back in, events seem to happen at random without much thought to how they build upon one another, and rather than being excited, I mostly felt disengaged.
Characters: Before I talk a out individuals, I want to discuss something McAvoy does that applies to all characters. Because McAvoy tells rather than shows, many of her characters come across as unusually self-aware. While some introspection is a good thing, I didn't exactly buy it 100% of the time. Aphrodite, for example, always talks about how her beauty makes her feel like she lives in a gilded cage. Her mother speaks bluntly about the expectations of women, her feelings about being Evander's godmother, etc. While sometimes a little directness can be good, I felt like such directness in this book was unrealistic or at least a shortcut for not writing scenes that let the reader infer these ideas.
Now for the individuals.
Aphrodite, our protagonist, was not particularly interesting to me as a reader. While I appreciated the fact that she was a POC in an elite role in society, I didn't feel like she was fully fleshed out. I didn't know what she wanted out of life, and I didn't feel like she was striving for anything, merely doing what was expected of her. On top of that, Aphrodite has few character quirks that make her compelling; we're told that she likes to read, but it's unclear how her reading tastes influence her personality or what her philosophical quotes add to the story.
Furthermore, I really did not like Aphrodite's naivete and the focus on her looks. On some level, I can understand how McAvoy might be trying to work against stereotypes of black women - by making her heroine beautiful, she combats the stereotypes that portray blackness as lesser or ugly. By making her heroine naïve, she combats stereotypes that portray black women as overly sexual. But as much as I can appreciate those things, I think McAvoy overcompensated. For one, Aphrodite is so beautiful that everything she does is perfect, which not only causes everyone around her to call her things like "angel" or "goddesses" often, but it causes a rift with her sister, Hathor. Aphrodite is also incredibly naïve - not only does she not think about the consequences of her actions, but she also doesn't know what sexual arousal is. There is a scene where she stumbles upon a couple having sex in a garden and her thoughts seem childish: "why is he kissing her like that? Wouldn't it hurt?" I felt a bit exhausted by her naivete, and she didn't seem to have any strong skills or talents to make up for her shortcomings or drive the narrative.
Evander, our hero, is difficult to see as a desirable love interest. Again, I admire McAvoy for putting POC into prominent roles and doing her best to combat stereotypes, but like Aphrodite, Evander comes across as rather flat. He lets his anger get the best of him, and though he never hurts Aphrodite, he does withhold a lot of information from her for fairly weak reasons.
Supporting characters are likewise flat and because of their dialogue, they feel stuffy or overly emotional. Aphrodite's mother, for example, could have been more complex in that she wants the best for her daughters yet also feels compelled to give Evander the benefit of the doubt (as he is her godson), but every time she speaks, she is impossibly formal and her actions lack nuance. She insists on balls and dancing lessons because those are the beats of a Regency romance, not because she has any particular insight into how these things can help her daughters, and even when she does show insight, it feels too insightful to be realistic. I also disliked how obvious it was that she favored Aphrodite and dismissed the feelings of her daughter, Hathor; the favoritism didn't endear me to her or Aphrodite, and it felt callous.
Aphrodite's and Evander's various siblings are likewise hard to connect with. Hathor, the sister whose coming out is the focus of the season, behaves like a child in that she cries when she isn't seen as absolutely perfect and chases her younger sister around the house over a ripped bonnet. Aphrodite's brother, Damon, is the dutiful heir and protective sibling, and his wife, Silva, is kind, but they disappear and reappear when convenient and I never really get a feel for their role in the story, other than to tell us (and Aphrodite's parents) that Aphrodite is still hurt after Evander's rejection. Evander's sister, Verity, is likeable in that she is kind and accepting, but her childhood trauma is used as a tool to fuel Evander's desire for justice.
The main antagonists in this book are Evander's half-brother, Fitzwilliam, and his mother, Datura. Datura is a butcher's daughter who was also Evander's father's mistress. Both of them are written as greedy and condemned for social climbing, which at first comes off as rather classist. To make sure we see them as antagonists, McAvoy writes Datura as the source of Verity's childhood trauma and makes Fitzwilliam a domestic abuser, which seems odd because the moral of the story is not that these two should be condemned for harming others, but they should be condemned because they dared to try to disrupt the social order. It was an odd conclusion, and one that I felt used interpersonal harm as an excuse to uphold the nobility.
Romance: Like the non-romance plot, the romance in this novel can be divided into two parts. The main premise of part one is that Evander rejected Aphrodite in the past, and our heroine has spent 4 years moping about it. While I love a good setup like this, it seemed like all the characters had to do to get together was have a good talk. When the protagonists are forced to interact during the season, Evander finally reveals the reason why he jilted Aphrodite and the major impediment to their union is cleared up by the 30% mark. After that, it's just a matter of getting Aphrodite's father on board and tidying up Evander's past. To me, it felt like drama without substance; Evander and Aphrodite don't really grow together by overcoming obstacles to their relationship, and it was disheartening, as I really thought there was some opportunity to reflect on things like childhood love and trust.
Part two follows Aphrodite and Evander after their marriage and gosh do they not learn from part one. The two spend a good chunk of the book quarreling because Evander withholds information for no good reason, and when they make up, Aphrodite's naivete and impulsive decisions threaten their relationship once again. I kind of felt like McAvoy wasn't sure how to write conflict after a couple got married, so a lot of it was meaningless drama that was enacted between the two leads rather than the leads forming a united front against the world.
Furthermore, I couldn't quite see what Aphrodite and Evander loved about each other aside from having known the other since childhood. Their romance felt like a proximity thing rather than a deep emotional connection, or perhaps Evander loved Aphrodite because she's so beautiful, and I wanted to see the two bring out the best in each other rather than just burn with passion. To some extent, it got better towards the end of the book; Evander seems to admire Aphrodite for the way she cares for Emeline and for her ruthless pursuit of justice, but he himself is still a bit too stuffy for my tastes.
Speaking of passion - Aphrodite and Evander's dynamic is somewhat like Daphne and Simon's in that Aphrodite is comically naïve and Evander is a brooding man who has to teach her about sex. In the show, the dynamic works a little better because withholding information about female sexuality is a theme and is shown to be a flaw in the mother's character. In this book, Aphrodite's naivete is not really a commentary on women's knowledge or sexuality - it seems to be there because McAvoy liked the trope of the clueless virgin, and while it may be some readers' jam, it very much was not mine.
TL;DR: Despite featuring a number of POC in prominent, upper-class roles, Aphrodite and the Duke doesn't feel very deliberate in its plotting and the writing style feels underdeveloped. While some readers might find joy in the world McAvoy creates, I felt personally disappointed on account of the poor characterization, chaotic narrative, and explanatory prose style.
February 4, 2024
2.5
This Bridgerton inspired, second chance romance has some lovely moments, but ultimately fell flat for me.
This Bridgerton inspired, second chance romance has some lovely moments, but ultimately fell flat for me.
February 6, 2023
Very good. I'm looking forward to Verity's book.
May 4, 2024
Listen… at first… I had critiques! I HATE MISCOMMUNICATION TROPES and THIS ONE TOOK THE DAMN CAKE! I can’t say what it is without providing a spoiler but the way it was explained at first… I rolled my eyes okay? lol But the more and more I got into this story the more each of these characters really dug their way into my heart and tugged on it’s strings.
Especially Emeline. By the end I actually shed tears because what?! Beautiful! And I say this as someone is normally like “FTK!” 🙃😂😅
This was a super refreshing palate cleanser and great warm up to the upcoming season of BRIDGERTON. But with more faces that represent me.
SN: This is one of the first books in a long time I bought for my shelf displays brand new without reading it for the cover and the title only. I ended up reading the e-copy through Libby.
Especially Emeline. By the end I actually shed tears because what?! Beautiful! And I say this as someone is normally like “FTK!” 🙃😂😅
This was a super refreshing palate cleanser and great warm up to the upcoming season of BRIDGERTON. But with more faces that represent me.
SN: This is one of the first books in a long time I bought for my shelf displays brand new without reading it for the cover and the title only. I ended up reading the e-copy through Libby.
June 5, 2023
1.5
I really hate to do this but I did not really enjoy this so I have to be honest!
I found the pacing of this to be very odd, part 1 worked well enough but it did feel rushed, they proclaim their love, reunite in less than 200 pages. Part 2 was aimless until the 290 page mark when the hints at the danger Fitzwilliam posed finally come back into the narrative. At that stage there's just about 60 to 70 pages left which leaves a lot to be done in a short amount of time. The middle section didn't drag exactly but the action fuelled sections just felt very abrupt.
The main issue I was having is that this was a story that didn't evoke emotion, which to me is central to a romance. Whether there's angst, hard won joy, passion etc i want to connect with those emotions the characters experience but the only thing I felt while reading was a little bored. There's some promise in this book, its not all bad, the family dynamics were nice but we completely lose the other Du Bell's later on. This couple simply did not have the chemistry to carry the story themselves.
I also thought the ending with the dowager was very interesting, the way it brought attention to her perspective and made out main characters uncomfortable was a pretty solid moment.
This brings me to my final issue. So many things were raised by the narrative without follow through. Aphrodite is insecure about how beautiful she was / how she is perceived by others as a result, I'm sorry but this was a silly choice felt like a reach to get give us an insecure heroine which is not needed! This is never followed through with either so what was the point? She constantly in part one references how she's a bird in a cage, her life ruled by men but when evander wants to marry her this is neatly forgotten about ~ is this a more general gripe I have with histroms, these thoughts are added in but never explored in a way that is fulfilling just a method to get the fmc to hold out against the mmc a little longer.
In this story specifically I was so annoyed at how little we get any attention on the conflict between the couple, he was at first insistent on not explaining jilting her when trying to get her back (dumb move) and when its all revealed she immediately forgives him no questions asked. Later in part 2 he insists on lying to her to protect her (a pattern at this point) and I was thinking this was going to be part of the emotional climax of the book. Them working through their issues as a married couple, why else have a part 2 with them as a married couple?!
The appeal of a second chance romance is that the couple love each other but could not make it work despite that love, with their second chance they work on their issues and by the end of the novel they are stronger in their relationship. For evander and aphrodite this is not true, they have such clear communication issues but they treat patterns of behaviour like one off occurrences. By the end of this novel I'm convinced they will just get stuck in argument cycles their whole life because they are unchanged as individuals and as a couple. Dont get me started on the big fight people were having with aphrodite near the end only to completely drop their anger towards her because....? No real pay off for that decision she made just drama for dramas sake and no follow through and because there were 50 pages left
Also what was the point of Tristan? he's so clearly a plot device to provide an alternative to evander but without being an actual threat! And this was emblematic of the general issue with this book despite some good elements it was just not effectively told, it should have worked more on its characters and their internal struggles than creating external pressures to test them as a couple.
I really hate to do this but I did not really enjoy this so I have to be honest!
I found the pacing of this to be very odd, part 1 worked well enough but it did feel rushed, they proclaim their love, reunite in less than 200 pages. Part 2 was aimless until the 290 page mark when the hints at the danger Fitzwilliam posed finally come back into the narrative. At that stage there's just about 60 to 70 pages left which leaves a lot to be done in a short amount of time. The middle section didn't drag exactly but the action fuelled sections just felt very abrupt.
The main issue I was having is that this was a story that didn't evoke emotion, which to me is central to a romance. Whether there's angst, hard won joy, passion etc i want to connect with those emotions the characters experience but the only thing I felt while reading was a little bored. There's some promise in this book, its not all bad, the family dynamics were nice but we completely lose the other Du Bell's later on. This couple simply did not have the chemistry to carry the story themselves.
I also thought the ending with the dowager was very interesting, the way it brought attention to her perspective and made out main characters uncomfortable was a pretty solid moment.
This brings me to my final issue. So many things were raised by the narrative without follow through. Aphrodite is insecure about how beautiful she was / how she is perceived by others as a result, I'm sorry but this was a silly choice felt like a reach to get give us an insecure heroine which is not needed! This is never followed through with either so what was the point? She constantly in part one references how she's a bird in a cage, her life ruled by men but when evander wants to marry her this is neatly forgotten about ~ is this a more general gripe I have with histroms, these thoughts are added in but never explored in a way that is fulfilling just a method to get the fmc to hold out against the mmc a little longer.
In this story specifically I was so annoyed at how little we get any attention on the conflict between the couple, he was at first insistent on not explaining jilting her when trying to get her back (dumb move) and when its all revealed she immediately forgives him no questions asked. Later in part 2 he insists on lying to her to protect her (a pattern at this point) and I was thinking this was going to be part of the emotional climax of the book. Them working through their issues as a married couple, why else have a part 2 with them as a married couple?!
The appeal of a second chance romance is that the couple love each other but could not make it work despite that love, with their second chance they work on their issues and by the end of the novel they are stronger in their relationship. For evander and aphrodite this is not true, they have such clear communication issues but they treat patterns of behaviour like one off occurrences. By the end of this novel I'm convinced they will just get stuck in argument cycles their whole life because they are unchanged as individuals and as a couple. Dont get me started on the big fight people were having with aphrodite near the end only to completely drop their anger towards her because....? No real pay off for that decision she made just drama for dramas sake and no follow through and because there were 50 pages left
Also what was the point of Tristan? he's so clearly a plot device to provide an alternative to evander but without being an actual threat! And this was emblematic of the general issue with this book despite some good elements it was just not effectively told, it should have worked more on its characters and their internal struggles than creating external pressures to test them as a couple.
September 9, 2022
Overall, I really enjoyed Aphrodite and the Duke, with a few caveats. But first let me tell you, briefly, what this book is about. At the beginning, you learn that Aphrodite is on her way back to London for the first time in several seasons after having her heart broken by her childhood friend who had said they would get married and then during the first week after her debut, he announced his marriage to someone else. When Aphrodite gets to London, her mom is like, "Yeah, you're getting married this season, congrats! Pick your suitor." And as you start to see Aphrodite interact with the Duke (childhood friend), the whole time you're going, "okay, so... what happened?" because it is very clear he is still into her. Eventually you get an answer to that and then ultimately, we spend the second half of the book with the two of them married.
In news that is maybe not altogether surprising given my love of marriage in trouble books, I loved watching Aphrodite and the Duke figure out how to be married to one another. Like, loved it. However, there is this whole suspense aspect to the plot that I just... hated, honestly. It's not that it is poorly done, it's just that I am exhausted at the moment with violence against women. I definitely think that's a me issue (I mean, IRL, I trust we're all tired of violence against women and probably violence in general, I just mean that in writing, I trust others still have the ability to tolerate that as a plot point). And ultimately, the resolution of this storyline left me... cold, I guess.
But all in all, I am very much looking forward to more from McAvoy in the future and I hope and trust that her writing may evolve a little to relax into a more modern writing style even while writing historical romance. Maybe. Hopefully. Otherwise, let me just say, the audiobook was the way to go for me. It made it a lot easier to deal with a writing style that feels a bit older and more formal.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the e-ARC! I actually read this book via an audiobook I purchased myself.
In news that is maybe not altogether surprising given my love of marriage in trouble books, I loved watching Aphrodite and the Duke figure out how to be married to one another. Like, loved it. However, there is this whole suspense aspect to the plot that I just... hated, honestly. It's not that it is poorly done, it's just that I am exhausted at the moment with violence against women. I definitely think that's a me issue (I mean, IRL, I trust we're all tired of violence against women and probably violence in general, I just mean that in writing, I trust others still have the ability to tolerate that as a plot point). And ultimately, the resolution of this storyline left me... cold, I guess.
But all in all, I am very much looking forward to more from McAvoy in the future and I hope and trust that her writing may evolve a little to relax into a more modern writing style even while writing historical romance. Maybe. Hopefully. Otherwise, let me just say, the audiobook was the way to go for me. It made it a lot easier to deal with a writing style that feels a bit older and more formal.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the e-ARC! I actually read this book via an audiobook I purchased myself.
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